Today is Valentine’s Day and, true to tradition, AFKLMP Cargo shipped about 3,300 tonnes (+10% compared to 2018) of flowers to Europe from leading production and export countries such as Kenya, Ecuador, and Colombia over a two-week period in January and February. These included Kenya’s famous roses, known as Rhodos. The additional 1,100 tonnes for Valentine’s Day consist of some 57,500,000 stems.
Using their Boeing 747-400 full-freighter and combi-aircraft, they were able to generate ample main deck capacity to and from the three main flower starting points of Nairobi, Quito, and Bogotá. For the first time, AFKLMP Cargo rerouted four Air France B777 freighter flights from Nairobi to Paris via Amsterdam to support the demand for flowers and Dutch trade. The greatest share of their capacity is mainly intended to supply the European – primarily Dutch, English, Italian, French and Russian – and Asian, most notably Japanese, markets.
In 2018, AFKLMP Cargo shipped more than 84,000 tonnes of flowers from Africa and Latin America to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
“We met seasonal peak flower demand for this year’s Valentine’s Day with enormous success. We are proud to show our strong commitment and professional dedication to the international flower business, which has a proven history over so many decades”, said Marcel de Nooijer, Executive Vice President Air France KLM Martinair Cargo.
Avianca Cargo volume grows five percent
In other news, Freightweek reports that between January 20 and February 6, Avianca Cargo carried 11,688 tons of cut flowers - a five percent increase over last year. The airline operated 162 cargo flights from Bogota, Medellin, and Quito to carry roses, carnations and bouquets from Bogota; pompoms, hydrangeas and chrysanthemums from Medellin; and roses and gypsy flowers from Quito.
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services reported that they have uplifted 945,620 Kgs of flowers to Brussels and Liege for the valentines, the last two weeks. "This figure shows increase in 10% when compared to Last year’s flower export for valentines."
Ethiopian Cargo and Logistics Services is one of the leading airline in Africa and is flying over 119 destinations with the Boeing freighter 777 Aircraft with a capacity of 100 tones. With its daily freighter services to Belgium (Brussels and Liege mainly), Ethiopian Transports a total of 100,000 kg of flowers per day. The annual Horti uplift in 2018 was 60,470,960 Kg.
For more information:
Air France KLM Martinair Cargo
www.afklcargo.com
Avianca Cargo
www.aviancacargo.com
Ethiopian Airlines
www.ethiopianairlines.com